RFC 9499 · BEST CURRENT PRACTICE · 2024

DNS Terminology

Overview

RFC 9499, “DNS Terminology”, is a Best Current Practice document published in March 2024 by P. Hoffman, K. Fujiwara. It updates RFC 2308. It obsoletes RFC 8499. The canonical text is published by the RFC Editor.

Abstract

The Domain Name System (DNS) is defined in literally dozens of different RFCs. The terminology used by implementers and developers of DNS protocols, and by operators of DNS systems, has changed in the decades since the DNS was first defined. This document gives current definitions for many of the terms used in the DNS in a single document.

This document updates RFC 2308 by clarifying the definitions of "forwarder" and "QNAME". It obsoletes RFC 8499 by adding multiple terms and clarifications. Comprehensive lists of changed and new definitions can be found in Appendices A and B.

Abstract as published in the RFC, via rfc-editor.org.

What “Best Current Practice” means

Documents the IETF community's recommended operational or procedural practice rather than a protocol specification.

Read this RFC

The canonical text of RFC 9499 is hosted at rfc-editor.org. Available in HTML,TXT,PDF,XML.

Relationships to other RFCs
This RFC obsoletes
RFC 8499
This RFC updates
RFC 2308
Other RFCs from 2024

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